Folding table



May 28, 1957 Filed July 26. 1955 E. A. l. JOHANSSON ET AL.

FOLDING TABLE 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTORS [58f A/VDBQS LW/JELJOf/A/VSSO/V m STl/Rf ALLAN MATT/AS JUHA/VSJON ATTORNE VS y 1957 E. A.I.'JOHANSSON ET AL 2,793,924

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS [BB/F MomsASRAH mm ATT/AS JUHAIVSSO/V AND STURALLA/V M ATTORNE Y8 FOLDING TABLEEbbe Anders Israel Johansson and Sture Allan Mattias I Johanssou,Halmstad, Sweden App i July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,326

Claims priority, application Sweden July 29, 1954 2 Claims. (01. 311-49The present invention relates to camping or similar collapsible tablesof the type comprising a rectangular table top carried by a detachablechassis consisting of two substantially rectangular ground-supports inthe form of pivotally interconnected closed frames collapsible from atop-supporting position in which the supporting frames cross each other,into an inoperative position in which said frames are disposed in acommon plane. The invention more particularly relates to collapsibletables of this kind in which there are attached to the lower face of thetable top, in the vicinity of two oppositely disposed edges thereof, tworesilient sheet-metal brackets, each comprising a leg portion disposedin spaced relation to the lower face of the top, these leg-portionsbeing directed towards one another and adapted, when said chassis is insitu relative to the table top, to embrace the portions of the chassisframes adjacent the lower face of the table top.

Heretofore, it has been common practice in collapsible tables of thekind specified to provide for the clearance between the lower face ofthe table top and the bracketleg portions in question to be less thanthe thickness of the portions of the chassis frames to be embraced bysaid legportions; thus, when engaging or disengaging the saidchassis-frame portions, utilising the resiliency of the brackets, theoperation of attaching the chassis to the table top, and in particular,its removal therefrom, was rendered comparatively difficult.

The present invention, having for its object to overcome the difficultyreferred to, is characterized in that the clearance between the lowerface of the table top, on the one hand, and the oppositely alignedleg-portions of the brackets, on the other hand, is slightly wider thanthe thickness of the portions of the chassis frames to be embraced bysaid leg-portions, and in that pivotally mounted on the lower face ofthe table top are two cam members or the like for co-operationrespectively with said leg-portions of the brackets so as to urge thelegportions towards the table top and against the frame portionsembraced by the leg-portions.

In a case where each bracket is in the form of a sheetmetal piece bentsubstantially into U-shape and being secured to the table top by one ofits two leg-portions, then according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the said cam members may be pivotally attached to saidleg-portion by a rivet or the like.

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described moreclosely by way of example, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is an inverted planview of a table according to the invention,the chassis thereof being shown partly cut away along the line I---I inFigure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the table;

2,793,924 Patent ed May2 8, 195,7

ice

Figure 3, to a larger scale, shows an inverted plan view of one of thebrackets for attaching the chassis;

Figures 4 and 5 are sections through the bracket taken along the lineIV-IV, for two different mounting stages, respectively, Figure 4illustrating the bracket in its chassis-retaining position, and 'Figure5 illustrating the bracket in its position for receivingor releasing.the chassis. I

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral .1 designates therectangular table top to the underside of which there are secured byrivets 2, in spaced relation to the ends of the table top, two brackets3 for detachably securing to the table top a chassis structure servingas a groundsupport for carrying the table top. This chassis is composedof two rectangular closed frames 4 made of tubing or rod material, oneframe 4 being slightly smaller than the other in size, and the framesbeing pivotally interconnected in such a manner as to enable them to beun folded or extended from a position in which they are collapsed in acommon plane into a position in which the planes of the framesintersect. In the latter position of the chassis, the table top willrest on the frame portions 5 which are intended to be releasablyretained by the brackets 3. Each such bracket 3 consists of a sheetmetalpiece bent into a substantially U-shaped crosssectional form, one,relatively long, leg-portion 6 of each bracket being secured by therivets 2 to the table top, and the other and shorter leg-portions 7 ofthe brackets being directed towards one another, the portions 5 of thechassis frames being adapted to be introduced into the clearance betweenthe legs 6 and 7 of the brackets; Pivotally secured to the longleg-portion 6 of each bracket by a rivet 8 is an elongated cam member 9in the form of a lever arm 10a projecting from the hub portion 10 at anacute angle to the plane of the table top, this cam lever being adapted,when being turned in contact with the bracket leg 7, to urge the lattertowards the table top. When the legs 7 of the brackets are released bythe cam lever 9 the clearance between the bracket legs 6 and 7 isslightly wider than the thickness of the frame segments 5 (see Figure5), whereby upon attaching the chassis to the table top or on itsremoval therefrom, the frame portions 5 can be conveniently engaged in,or disengaged from, the said clearance. When, after the frame segments 5have been introduced into the corresponding bracket gap, the cam levers1011 are turned in contact with the bracket leg-portions 7, the latterare urged against I the frame segments 5 causing the chassis to be heldrigidly to the table top.

It is understood that the invention is not restricted to the embodimenthereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,the same being susceptible of various modifications in respect of itsdetails without departing from the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a collapsible table having a table top and ground supports forsaid top being in the form of pivotally interconnected closed framescollapsible from a top supporting position in which said frames crosseach other, into a collapsed position with said frames positioned in acommon plane, brackets each for connecting one of said frames to saidtable top and comprising a resilient sheet connected to said table topand having a leg portion spaced from said top for receiving a portion ofone of said frames therebetween and a cam member pivotally connected tosaid table top and extending from said top in a manner for contactingsaid leg portion when pivoted thereto and bending said leg portiontowards said top for releaseably retaining said frame portion betweensaid leg portion and said table top.

2. In a collapsible table having a table top and a ground support forsaid top being in the form of pivotally interconnected closed framescollapsible from a top supporting position in which said frames crosseach other, into a collapsed portion with said frames positioned in acommon plane, brackets each for connecting one of said frames to saidtable top and comprising a resilient U-shaped sheet with one leg thereofmounted on and connected to said table top with the other leg thereofspaced from said table top whereby a portion of one of said frames canextend between said legs, a cam member pivotally connected at one end tosaid table top connected leg of said bracket and being capable ofengaging the spaced leg of said bracket when pivoted thereto for bendingsaid spaced leg towards said top connected 4 leg releaseably retainingsaid frame portion between said bracket legs.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS344,834 Hines July 6, 1886 606,845 Simmons July 5, 1898 628,712 HoshourJuly 11, 1899 1,412,314 Pandolfo Apr. 11, 1922 1,462,615 Noble July 24,1923 2,288,737 Page July 7, 1942 2,514,735 Wilson et al July 11, 19502,666,681 Adler Jan. 19, 1954 2,675,286 Derman Apr. 13, 1954 2,709,120Tuttle May 24, 1955 2,729,279 Axtell et a1. Jan. 3, 1956

